14
We followed Andrus back to his office and he opened the door to the secret room. The lamps illuminated the crystals which reflected the soft light off their smooth exteriors. Andrus stepped inside and to the first stand-alone rack.
Andrus paused and snatched one of the crystals from its pedestal. He walked over to us as we stood in the office and wiped the surface with a handkerchief which I noticed was already stained yellow. The color from the crystal came off onto the cloth and revealed a white interior.
“The thief is rather clever,” Andrus mused as he showed off the crystal. “They have stolen more than just the single crystal, and hid that truth by coloring empty crystals and leaving them in their stead.”
I looked past Andrus and at the interior of the secret room. “There
